Galileo 11 and 12 satellites were successfully launched on December 17

Dec.21,2015

Image: ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique Video du CSG-S.MARTIN

The European Union (EU) successfully launched Galileo 11 and 12, two satellites in the Galileo global navigation satellite system, on a Soyuz rocket at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana at 8:51 on December 17 local time (20:51 JST).

The next launch will include four satellites at the same time and is planned for the second quarter of next year. They will be launched by the first of the Ariane 5ES rockets (three of which have been manufactured) customized for the simultaneous launch of four satellites.

Galileo global navigation satellite system services will be available from next year. The remaining two customized Ariane 5ES rockets, as well as one Soyuz rocket, will be launched from 2017 to 2018, bringing the system to 26 of 30 total satellites.

Two satellites launched in March will be operated from this month

According to the European Space Agency (ESA), tests in space have been completed for Galileo 7 and 8, which were launched in March of this year, and they will be operated starting this month. These two satellites are the third and fourth Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites that have already been launched. They serve a central role in the Galileo positioning system together with the 16 satellites to be launched in the future.